In video: The Israel Prize awarding ceremony concludes the events of the 74th Independence Day/Photo: Corporation
In recent years, there has been a serious deterioration in the Israel Prize institution, in the form of explicit attempts by political parties to influence the selection of the winners, not only in "life work - a special contribution to society and the country" or in the various creative fields, but also in distinct scientific research topics.
The Oded Goldreich case in 2021 was a prominent breaking point.
The professional judging committee, whose people's level and integrity are not in doubt, chose him to receive the prize in mathematics and computer science research, but two ministers of education (Yoav Galant followed by Yifat Shasha Biton) refused to give him the prize due to his non-scientific opinions and activities, and fought the decision with all their might.
The dismal situation was saved by the judges of the High Court of Justice with their decision in the petition submitted by the members of the judicial committee themselves. Goldreich eventually received the award in a rather embarrassing "ceremony" at the Ministry of Education, which the Minister of Education did not even see fit to attend.
Avraham Tal at the Israel Prize 2023/Haaretz ceremony, Olivier Fitoussi
In general, considerations of aligning the prize candidates with the government did not affect the decisions on scientific research issues.
My late father, Prof. A.
Harel Fish, was a researcher of English and comparative literature.
But he was also one of the leading intellectuals of the right, and one of the founders of the "Movement for the Whole of Israel".
These facts did not affect the decision to award him the Israel Prize for the Study of General Literature in 2000, which he received from the hands of Education Minister Yossi Sharid, Prime Minister Ehud Barak and President Ezer Weizman.
Not exactly his or the right's cup of tea of that time.
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For myself, I never hid my opinions on the affairs of the hour, which are mostly contrary to those of my father, and I even fought for them a lot.
These facts did not prevent my selection as the winner of the award in 2004, which I received from the Minister of Education Limor Livnat, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Moshe Katsav.
Not exactly my cup of tea or that of my friends in the struggles at the time.
However, it seems that no attempt at intervention compares in severity to the human damage to the Israel Prize institution of the misguided idea of Minister Yoav Kish, to cancel this year the prizes in the fields of scientific research, creativity and life work, and to award them only in the new field of mutual guarantee, rescue and civil heroism, as they came to me Manifestation in the period from October 7 onwards.
In the letter that we, the members of the Council of the Israeli National Academy of Sciences, sent to Minister Kish upon learning of his decision, we claimed that since its inception, the Israel Prize has been a first-rate basis for the state's recognition of science and culture in their various fields.
Never, even in the most difficult days, was the awarding of the award canceled in these areas.
Moreover, the Israel Prize gives the residents of Israel a unique opportunity a year - on the eve of Independence Day, in a live broadcast - to recognize and honor the senior scientists, intellectuals and creators in Israel, to be exposed to the variety of their fields, and to show off the strength and achievements of higher education, academia and culture in Israel.
In our letter to the minister, we wrote that in this difficult year there is indeed room to add a category of awards for mutual guarantee and displays of heroism.
But this recognition should be given alongside the awards that will also be given as standard to the outstanding scientists and creators of the State of Israel.
Not at their expense, and in no way in their place.
Professor Oded Goldreich/official site, Wikipedia
President of the Academy of Sciences David Harel.
February 18, 2024/Official website, Michal Fatal
We added that the combination of the winners of the prize for scientific and cultural work with winners for contribution to the special effort of the current period will add an important touch to the Israel Prize institution itself, and will transmit a special power and an adequate sensitivity to the order of the hour.
Especially if maximum attention is given to organizing a modest, unifying and consensual ceremony.
On the other hand, the cancellation of the award in the fields of scientific research, creation and the work of life is contrary to the essence of the award and its very existence, and is a very serious injury to the status of science in the State of Israel and the spiritual infrastructure on which it is built.
Unfortunately, it seems that the Minister of Education does not at all intend to reconsider his decision, despite the plea in our letter, and even though the committees are already working vigorously on the selection of the winners.
From here, the road to the following clear conclusion is short: the handling of the Israel Awards in all its parts must be expropriated once and for all from the Ministry of Education.
This important enterprise must be entrusted to respected, independent and non-political state institutions, which recognize the centrality and power of science, research and creation in Israel.
The proposed solution here, which for years I have been bringing up in the ears of various central figures, is the transfer of the Israel Prize to joint management of the President's House and the Israeli National Academy of Sciences.
These are two bodies that are not under the control of any political body, and no government sword is raised over their heads.
Their actions are independent to the greatest extent possible.
The Academy will be in charge of the fields of science and research, including the humanities and social sciences, and the President's House will be in charge of the non-research creative fields and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Each of the two bodies will appoint the relevant professional committees, and the final decisions will come from the President's House and the Academy in a coordinated manner.
I am not innocent, and it is clear that this proposal cannot be implemented in the current term of the government.
But since in any case it is appropriate that the Israel Prize be finally anchored in legislation, it will be possible to start the process and the implementation of the idea already in the next government.
The author is a professor at the Weizmann Institute, winner of the Israel Prize in Computer Science Research for the year 5644, and president of the Israel National Academy of Sciences
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